NBA free agency: Los Angeles Lakers focus on Carmelo Anthony

In this file photo, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers gestures beside a grimacing Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter of their NBA game at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Dec. 25, 2012. The Lakers defeated the Knicks 100-94. Now, Anthony is a free agent and the Lakers will meet with him to see if he has a potential future with the West Coast team. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images file)

A prospect the Lakers initially felt lukewarm about has become become the team’s primary focus during the initial days of free agency. The Lakers will meet with Carmelo Anthony today in Los Angeles, hopeful they can convince the New York Knicks’ star to return for reasons beyond already owning a home here.

It remains unclear what the Lakers’ sales pitch will entail. Or if Kobe Bryant will attend today’s meeting that will include Anthony, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, executive Jim Buss and team president Jeanie Buss. But the Lakers will have plenty to address. How will the Lakers rebuild after finishing last season with the worst record in L.A. franchise history? With nearly $37 million of next season’s projected $63 million salary cap devoted to Bryant, Steve Nash, Robert Sacre and Julius Randle, how can the Lakers construct a solid rebuilding cast when equating Anthony’s presumed maximum salary deal?

If they host Anthony at their facility in El Segundo, the Lakers have some positive answers beyond pointing to their 10 NBA championships they won since the late Jerry Buss began owning the team in 1979.

The Lakers could explain their optimism about Bryant’s improved health after playing in only six games last season because of injuries to his left Achilles tendon and left knee. With Bryant and Anthony teaming together, the Lakers could entice talented role players to sign at a discounted rate. The Lakers could mention to Anthony they have more cap space than both Houston and Chicago to sign him. Kupchak could also restate his public comments that the Lakers will hire a coach who will have a system most suited to whatever team they assemble.

The Lakers have stayed busy in other areas, too.

They are continuing to try to set up a meeting with LeBron James. Kupchak also spoke with Lakers forward Pau Gasol in person on Tuesday in Los Angeles, according to a league source familiar with the discussion. But the Lakers’ offseason focus currently centers on their meeting with Anthony, who already spoke this week with Chicago (Tuesday) as well as Houston and Dallas (Wednesday) and will talk with the Knicks after the Lakers.

Both the Bulls and Rockets welcomed Anthony with photoshopped images of him wearing respective jerseys for those teams, plastered on billboards and in the team’s arenas. The Lakers featured billboards that asked for Dwight Howard to stay last year. Howard’s meeting also involved representatives from both AEG and Time Warner Cable SportsNet to highlight the marketing opportunities the Lakers present. Whether the Lakers duplicate such measures remains as much of a mystery as whether Anthony will sign here.

Best foot forward

It turns out Randle will start off with the Lakers on the right foot, both literally and figuratively.

Randle spent Wednesday in Indiana visiting foot specialist Dr. David Porter, who determined he will not surgery to correct an incorrect pin placed in his right foot.

The Lakers have cleared Randle to play, beginning with their Vegas Summer League team from July 11-21. Contrary to reports citing concerns from unnamed NBA executives before last week’s draft, neither the Lakers nor Randle expected he would need surgery. Randle, whom the Lakers selected seventh overall in last week’s draft, impressed the team in an individual workout last month without showing any limitations on his foot. Randle also appeared in all 40 games last season with the University of Kentucky and posted a nation-leading 24 double doubles. But Randle visited two doctors on Monday in Los Angeles and traveled to Indiana for another foot examination for precautionary reasons.

Advertisement

Etc...

The Lakers lost one coaching candidate in Lionel Hollins, who accepted the head-coaching position on Wednesday with the Brooklyn Nets. ... On Wednesday, the Utah Jazz expressed interest in Lakers reserve forward Kent Bazemore, according to a league source.